Skip to playerSkip to main content
  • 2 days ago
When I Stopped Loving Him HD SM
Transcript
00:00My best friend and I gave birth on the same day.
00:03Perhaps one day we should bring the children together.
00:06They're half-siblings, they can't get married.
00:09I froze, I thought I'd heard wrong.
00:11On our wedding night after we finished,
00:15I slipped sleeping pills into your drink.
00:18She used her bra to cover your face.
00:20We were right there beside you, going until dawn.
00:23That was also the night you both conceived.
00:25My mind shattered, I turned,
00:27and stared at the hospital bed beside me at my best friend,
00:30lying there eyes closed to sleep.
00:32I was twenty years old when I took fifteen stab wounds,
00:36to save her life.
00:37She told me she would owe me that debt forever Ethan
00:40stepped in front of me, calm, as ever blocking life.
00:43Don't worry, Natalie won't compete with you.
00:45We'll all live together from now on.
00:47Mrs. Foster, that's still you.
00:49Every drop of blood in my body turned to ice,
00:52the cold voice of the system echoed through my mind.
00:54Host, do you choose to abandon redemption of the villain,
00:58and exit this world immediately?
01:01My eyes fell on Natalie's wrist, the silver one's red.
01:04She was wearing I had knelt on the cathedral floor
01:06for five hours praying with it,
01:08the day Ethan nearly died in a car accident.
01:10He never took it off,
01:12but when Natalie and I were both rushed into delivery,
01:15he didn't hesitate.
01:17He gave it to her.
01:20Ethan quietly tucked Natalie's hand beneath her blanket,
01:24then turned and used his thumb
01:25to wipe the tears from my cheek.
01:27You're a mother now.
01:28Why do you still cry this easily?
01:31I slapped his hand away.
01:34Why her?
01:35She had a boyfriend,
01:37and you chased after her shamelessly!
01:39Have you no dignity?
01:40He glanced at the red mark blooming on the back of his hand.
01:43Even now, you still think the boyfriend
01:45she's been hiding is someone else?
01:46He laughed out loud
01:48like he remembered something funny several times.
01:50Several times when you called,
01:52we were right in the middle of it.
01:54She'd be trembling all over,
01:55too scared to make a sound.
01:56Her face in those moments.
01:58I'll never forget it.
02:00He let out a small sigh of regret, Shane.
02:02Shame we won't get to do that anymore.
02:05I bit down on my lip
02:06until I tasted blood
02:07the metallic taste spread across my tongue.
02:10My throat felt stuffed with cotton.
02:12No sound came out
02:13after a lie of silence.
02:14Why did you have to lie?
02:16If you told me sooner,
02:18I would have stepped aside willingly.
02:21I would have walked away early.
02:24I wouldn't be standing here now
02:26shredded from the inside out.
02:28Who told us to feel guilty about you?
02:30That night when you were attacked.
02:32Trying to save Natalie,
02:33beaten and violated
02:34until you miscarried it.
02:36I was in the car
02:37around the corner with her.
02:38She was terrified.
02:39I was trying to calm her down.
02:42We got carried away.
02:44That's why we forgot to call for help.
02:51That night, Natalie and I
02:52were walking home from a movie.
02:53We ran into someone
02:54in the parking garage.
02:56I threw myself in front of her,
02:58gave her a fighting chance.
03:01I was certain she would go get help.
03:03I held on grinding through the pain,
03:05telling myself she was coming.
03:08When I woke up,
03:09I was in the hospital.
03:10Ethan was holding me,
03:11shaking violently,
03:12swearing he would make them pay.
03:13And he did.
03:14He actually followed through.
03:16But staring at him now,
03:17so calm,
03:18so untouched,
03:19I finally understood
03:20even the deepest love
03:22can be a performance.
03:23Even tears can be rehearsed.
03:24If a stranger hadn't stepped in that night,
03:27I would have died.
03:28I grabbed the soup bowl
03:29from the nightstand
03:29and hurled it at him.
03:31It crashed to the floor
03:32and shattered.
03:33Broth spilled everywhere
03:34he had made that soup himself
03:35last night.
03:36He'd added peanuts,
03:37Natalie's favorite.
03:38He'd forgotten entirely
03:40that I'm allergic to peanuts.
03:41All the signs were there.
03:43I never once doubted.
03:44Ethan stood perfectly still.
03:46The broth dripped from his hair,
03:48ran down his face,
03:49soaked his collar.
03:50He didn't get angry.
03:51He let out a long, slow breath.
03:53Hate me, blame me,
03:54that's fine.
03:55I only ask one thing,
03:56don't take it out on Natalie.
03:57She just gave birth,
03:59she's at risk
03:59for postpartum depression.
04:00She cares about you deeply.
04:02Please be understanding.
04:03I dug my fingernails
04:04into my palms
04:05until the trembling stopped.
04:06He knew I needed rest
04:08after delivery.
04:08He knew I needed
04:09to keep my emotions steady.
04:11He simply didn't care
04:12enough to matter.
04:13Post,
04:13do you choose
04:14to abandon redemption
04:15of the villain
04:16and exit this world immediately?
04:17If no choice is made
04:19within 24 hours,
04:20it will be treated
04:21as Ferf Kitchen.
04:22Post will remain
04:23in this world
04:24permanently.
04:25Countdown begins.
04:27Tears broke free.
04:29Natalie, wait!
04:30How long are you
04:30going to keep
04:31pretending to sleep?
04:35Tell me,
04:36was sleeping with my husband
04:37really that good?
04:39Natalie opened her eyes.
04:41Her face was chalk.
04:43White, she couldn't look at me.
04:44She grabbed her pillow
04:45and hurled it at Ethan.
04:47How could you tell her?
04:49How dare you hurt her
04:51like this?
04:52I told you
04:53I never wanted
04:54any claim on you.
04:55I was going to leave
04:56after having the baby.
04:57Ethan lunged forward
04:58and pulled her fiercely
04:59into his arms.
05:00Because I can't bear
05:01to let you go.
05:04That's why I had
05:05to tell the truth.
05:06Don't leave me, Natalie.
05:07Natalie, it's all my fault.
05:10Don't move.
05:10You'll tear your stitches.
05:11Those same words
05:12he had once said them
05:13to me too.
05:15He lost his mother,
05:16young.
05:17His father was always
05:18away for work,
05:19growing up.
05:20The only constant
05:21in his house
05:21was the housekeeper
05:22who happened to be a monster.
05:24She waited
05:24until no one
05:25was watching.
05:26She heard him one day.
05:27She had nearly
05:28beaten him to death.
05:31And I burst through
05:32his front door
05:32and dragged him out.
05:33I pulled him up
05:34from the dark.
05:39Later the housekeeper
05:40retaliated
05:40but she hired people
05:41to kidnap me
05:42at the last moment.
05:43Ethan refused
05:44to let go of my hand
05:45they beat him bloody.
05:46He didn't release me.
05:47Adults finally arrived
05:48and saved us both.
05:50Even in the hospital,
05:51he never let go
05:52of my hand.
05:53Don't leave me, Eli.
05:55The way he held me then,
05:56like I was something
05:57irreplaceable.
05:58It looked exactly
05:59like this moment.
06:00Only the person
06:01he was holding
06:02had changed.
06:04I had thought
06:05about it before.
06:06If the seven year itch
06:08ever came for us,
06:09what would I do?
06:10I'd thought it through
06:11to the end.
06:12At worst,
06:13I'd take Natalie out
06:14and we'd drink ourselves
06:15senselessly
06:16for a few days then.
06:17Dry my eyes
06:18and keep loving him.
06:19But why did it
06:20have to be Natalie?
06:21Now who do I call
06:23when I need someone
06:23to drink with me
06:24through the night?
06:26Natalie struggled
06:27free of Ethan's
06:28arms and collapsed
06:29at the edge
06:30of my bed,
06:30sobbing.
06:32Eli, please don't cry.
06:35I'll leave tomorrow.
06:37You two can go back
06:38to the way things were.
06:40Natalie had once
06:41been a girl from wealth
06:42at five years old.
06:44Her whole family
06:45died in a car crash
06:46and only she survived.
06:49The estate
06:50was carved up
06:50by others.
06:52The relatives
06:53who called themselves
06:54family shipped her off
06:55to an orphanage.
06:57She was bullied
06:58every day.
07:00When we met,
07:01I begged my parents
07:02to adopt her.
07:06My parents treated her
07:08like their own daughter.
07:09She cried in front
07:10of her birthday cake.
07:12Everything I have,
07:13I'll share half with you.
07:15Half of the good food,
07:17half of the fun,
07:18half of mom and day.
07:19I never imagined
07:20she would want
07:21half of my husband too.
07:22I clenched my jaw.
07:24My voice came out
07:25low raw.
07:26Get out.
07:28I don't want
07:28to look at you.
07:30You're a home wrecker
07:31with no shame.
07:34The baby startled
07:35at our screaming
07:36with cried faces
07:37going red.
07:37I lifted mine
07:38and held it close
07:39whispering softly.
07:40My tears fell on its cheek
07:41whether I wanted it to
07:42or not.
07:43Natalie buried her face
07:44in her hands,
07:45sobbing.
07:45I'm sorry.
07:45I'm sorry.
07:46Saying over and over
07:47Ethan's expression.
07:48Darkened,
07:49he picked up
07:49the crying child
07:50from that.
07:51Allie sighed
07:52and turned on me
07:53with barely
07:53contained fury.
07:55Natalie has always
07:55tried to protect you.
07:56She couldn't bear
07:57to hurt you
07:57by a single hair.
07:58And Natalie
07:59has been my fiancée
08:00from the very beginning.
08:02You were the other woman.
08:03You always were.
08:05I went rigid.
08:06Ethan had mentioned
08:07a fiancée once
08:08but he told me himself
08:09she died in a car accident.
08:11And when I first intro
08:12deuced them,
08:13they acted as though
08:14they'd never met.
08:15They even bickered
08:16constantly more than once.
08:18I begged Ethan
08:18to be nicer to Natalie
08:20for my sake.
08:20I secretly congratulated
08:22myself their relationship
08:23when we warmed up
08:24because I worked
08:24so hard in the middle.
08:26Now I saw it
08:26I had been the complete fool
08:27the whole time.
08:28I almost laughed
08:29at the absurdity of it.
08:31My eyes blowed
08:31with tears.
08:32Even through the laughter
08:33I reached out
08:34and ripped the rosary off.
08:35No.
08:36Tally's wrist,
08:37the beads scattered
08:38and rolled across the floor.
08:38These are mine!
08:40You two don't deserve them.
08:42I gathered my child
08:43and pushed myself
08:44to my feet every step.
08:45felt like walking
08:46on the edge
08:47of a blade pane
08:48shuddering through
08:49my entire body.
08:51But there wasn't
08:52a single moment
08:53of hesitation behind me.
08:55Natalie sobbed
08:55Ethan rage.
08:57The system's voice
08:58came again.
08:59Eighteen hours remaining.
09:00Please make your choice promptly.
09:04I wandered the hospital corridor
09:05with my baby in my arms
09:07feeling nothing but cold.
09:08I should hate Ethan
09:09for his betrayal.
09:11I should hate Natalie
09:12for her treachery.
09:13But the thing I hated most
09:15was that they made me
09:16lose both of them at once.
09:17In a daze
09:18I opened my phone
09:19and scrolled through
09:20my photos images
09:21flooded back.
09:22One after another
09:23Ethan
09:24and me hiking
09:25to a mountaintop
09:26at four in the morning
09:27to watch the sunrise
09:28kissing in a field
09:29of lavender
09:29scuba diving in Bali
09:31and in every photo
09:32every single one
09:33there was Natalie.
09:33What I thought
09:34was a love story
09:35between two people
09:36had always already
09:37been three.
09:37I never noticed
09:38I deleted over
09:39ten thousand photos
09:40looking at the system panel.
09:42I laughed bitterly
09:43to myself.
09:44What wrong
09:45had Ethan really done?
09:46He simply didn't love me.
09:47That is all
09:48I held my baby tighter
09:49my vision blurred again.
09:51I am sorry.
09:52Baby mom
09:53can only leave you
09:54behind in this world.
09:55Just let me have
09:56a few more hours
09:56with my child.
09:58Ethan's expensive
09:59dress shoes
09:59appeared in my
10:00field of view.
10:01I looked up
10:02he was staring at me
10:03his eyes full of hurt
10:04and remorse
10:05the next second
10:06I was pulled into
10:07the warmth
10:07of his arms.
10:11The familiar tenderness
10:13shattered me instantly
10:14against my head.
10:15I thought maybe
10:16he still loves me
10:17just a little.
10:18I'm sorry Eli
10:19I said things
10:20in the heat of the moment
10:20that I shouldn't have.
10:22You have to believe me
10:23I never wanted
10:24to hurt you.
10:25I was just so worried
10:26about Natalie.
10:27Afraid she'd actually
10:28take the baby
10:28and leave.
10:31Don't be difficult
10:32okay?
10:33After you walked out
10:33Natalie wouldn't
10:34stop crying.
10:35Natalie Natalie
10:35his eyes held
10:36only one name now.
10:38The last shred
10:38of hope
10:39he crushed it himself.
10:40The air felt
10:41full of blades
10:41each breath
10:42left me bleeding
10:43after a long silence.
10:45I cut him off
10:45for you to take care
10:46of the baby.
10:47No matter what
10:48with him paused
10:48he relaxed visibly.
10:50As if a weight had
10:51lifted he cupped
10:52my face in both hands
10:53his tone like
10:53Eli of course
10:54I'll be good
10:55to you.
10:56I'll be good
10:57to the baby.
10:58You just gave birth
10:59you have to take
10:59care of yourself too.
11:01His phone rang
11:02before he could
11:02finish the second.
11:03He answered.
11:05His entire face
11:06changed.
11:07Don't panic
11:08I'm on my way
11:09right now.
11:09When he hung up
11:10all the softness
11:11was gone
11:12his expression
11:12was stone.
11:13His eyes black
11:14and terrifying
11:15he erupted
11:16Natalie's baby
11:17was diagnosed
11:18with a congenical
11:19heart deceased.
11:20There's no
11:20compatible donor.
11:21She's already unstable.
11:23Then you went
11:24and deleted
11:24all the photos.
11:25She's convinced
11:26you'll never forgive her.
11:27Now she's on the roof.
11:30Are you satisfied?
11:32Come with me roof
11:33now!
11:34He grabbed my arm
11:36and dragged me
11:36without a word.
11:37The jostling
11:38tore something open.
11:39Below a hot
11:40wet sensation
11:41spread through me.
11:42Dizziness rolled
11:43through me in the nose.
11:44I bit through
11:44the inside of my cheek
11:45to stay upright
11:47and rooftop Natalie.
11:48Stood outside the railing
11:49the wind
11:50caught her loose
11:50hospital gown
11:51and whipped it
11:52against her.
11:52She looked
11:53like she could
11:54vanish in a blink
11:55when she saw me.
11:57Her eyes lit
11:58just for a second.
11:59Then they went
11:59dark again.
12:00Her face was streaked
12:01with tears.
12:03Eli,
12:04my baby's dying
12:05and you're never
12:06gonna forgive me
12:07are you?
12:08I have nothing left.
12:10I have nothing left.
12:12Natalie,
12:13don't.
12:13Before I could speak
12:14Ethan broke
12:15into a cold sweat
12:16and stepped forward.
12:17Eli knows she was wrong.
12:19That's why she came
12:20to ask for your forgiveness.
12:21He turned and stared
12:22at him stunned
12:23beyond words.
12:24But Natalie
12:25didn't believe it.
12:26Her eyes were
12:27distant and focused.
12:29You're never
12:30gonna forgive me.
12:32If you knew
12:32it was me
12:33who arranged
12:34for those people
12:34to attack you
12:35that night
12:35you'd want me dead.
12:37Something split open
12:38inside my chest.
12:39Estai lunged forward
12:40a hand seized me
12:41and yanked me
12:42back hard.
12:43I spun around
12:43Ethan's eyes
12:44were cold as stone.
12:47Natalie was young
12:48when she did that.
12:49She didn't understand
12:51what she was doing.
12:52Afterward the guilt
12:53nearly drove her
12:54to suicide
12:54more than once.
12:57If I hadn't
12:57stayed with her
12:58through all of that
12:59you might never
12:59have seen her again.
13:01I stopped moving
13:02every part of me
13:02went cold.
13:03He knew he had
13:04known the truth
13:05all along.
13:06I the victim
13:07had been drowning
13:08in that darkness alone.
13:10And he had watched
13:11without reaching in
13:12while Natalie
13:13The biggest regret
13:14of my life
13:15is saving
13:16either of you!
13:18Vupine crossed
13:19Ethan's face.
13:20Then Natalie
13:21let out a sudden
13:21piercing shriek
13:22and wept it.
13:24It's all gone.
13:27Everything's gone.
13:28The guilt
13:28on Ethan's face
13:29vanished immediately.
13:31What's the point
13:31of dredging
13:32all this up now?
13:33It's been years!
13:34Let it go!
13:36You only have yourself
13:37to blame
13:37for playing hero.
13:38He reached over
13:39and took my baby
13:40out of my arms, Natalie.
13:42Natalie, see?
13:43She's forgiven you.
13:44Look, she even
13:45brought the baby.
13:46She came to donate
13:47the heart.
13:47I stared at him
13:48in horror
13:49and grabbed
13:50for my child.
13:50A heart is one!
13:53If she needs one
13:54she waits for
13:55a compatible donor!
13:56My daughter
13:57is not an option!
13:58My voice broke
13:59trembling
13:59and somewhere
14:00underneath a plea
14:01so raw
14:01I hadn't even
14:02noticed it leave me.
14:03You promised me
14:04you would take care
14:05of this baby!
14:08His eyes
14:09slid away
14:09he exhaled.
14:10The baby
14:11was unlucky
14:12that's all.
14:13We'll have
14:14other children
14:14later.
14:15Natalie worried
14:16you'd mind
14:16so she had
14:17herself sterilized.
14:19She can't
14:20have any more
14:20children.
14:22You're a mother
14:22too.
14:23Surely you don't
14:24want to push
14:24her over the edge?
14:25I was shaking
14:26so hard
14:27I could barely
14:27stand.
14:28I reached
14:28for my baby
14:29again.
14:30Tally leaped
14:30over the railing
14:31stumbled toward me
14:32and grabbed me
14:33with both hands
14:33holding me in place.
14:34Eli none of this
14:35is your fault
14:36but the baby
14:37is innocent.
14:38His only mistake
14:39is having me
14:40as his mother.
14:41Please save him.
14:43She looked up
14:43at me every trace
14:44of fragility.
14:45Gone her eyes
14:46were pure
14:46venom silent
14:47she mouthed.
14:48He always chooses
14:49me.
14:50You are nothing.
14:51I was stunned
14:51by the hatred
14:52burning behind
14:53those eyes.
14:53She had hated
14:54me this deeply
14:54all along
14:55the next second.
14:56She let herself
14:57drop pretending
14:57to fall
14:58and threw herself
14:59to her knees
15:00slamming her forehead
15:01against the floor
15:02again.
15:02Hit me.
15:03Curse me.
15:03Take my life
15:05if you want.
15:06Just please
15:07save the baby.
15:08Aliyah that is
15:09enough.
15:11He shoved me
15:12to the ground.
15:13He swept Natalie
15:14up took the baby
15:15and walked away
15:16without looking back.
15:17No.
15:18I lay on the floor
15:18sobbing until I had
15:19nothing left the wound
15:20below.
15:21Tore open
15:22whiter blood
15:22soaked through.
15:23I didn't feel it.
15:25I scrambled
15:26after them
15:26and found out
15:28the baby had
15:28already been taken
15:29into the operating room.
15:31I ran to the
15:31doors Ethan
15:32signaled and
15:33someone pinned me
15:34to the floor.
15:35I screamed
15:35helpless.
15:40Ethan
15:41let her go
15:42please
15:42I'm begging you.
15:45Ethan didn't even
15:46flinch.
15:47His voice
15:47was flat
15:48impatient.
15:48The baby
15:49isn't guaranteed
15:49to die.
15:50I authorize
15:51the best artificial
15:52heart on the market.
15:53I really don't see
15:54why you're making
15:54such a scene.
15:55I clawed at his
15:56pant leg
15:57until my fingertips
15:57split and bled.
15:59She's so small.
16:01How can a baby
16:02survive an artificial
16:03heart?
16:04If it's viable
16:05then why won't you
16:06use it for Natalie's
16:07son first?
16:08He pressed his lips
16:09together silence.
16:10Please.
16:11The only sound left
16:11was my begging
16:12a long time later.
16:13The operating room
16:14doors swung open
16:15the surgeon's voice
16:16was gentle
16:16and regretful.
16:17The girl was
16:18too small.
16:20She didn't
16:20survive the surgery.
16:22But the boy's
16:22operation was a success.
16:24Natalie's face
16:25flooded with relief.
16:26She couldn't quite
16:26hide the triumph
16:27in her eyes.
16:28Ethan exhaled slowly.
16:29He walked over
16:30and helped me
16:31to my feet, Eli.
16:32Eli, if you want
16:33another child
16:34we can try again.
16:35Natalie took my hand
16:36performed her sorrow
16:37beautifully.
16:38Eli, my son
16:39is your son too.
16:40The system's voice
16:41came count.
16:42Down one minute
16:43host must die promptly
16:44or remain in this
16:45world permanently.
16:46My mind went blank
16:47nothing but white noise.
16:49I turned,
16:49I stepped past the surgeon.
16:50I took the scalpel
16:51from the instrument tray.
16:52I didn't hesitate,
16:53I drove it into
16:54my carotid artery.
16:55Warm blood
16:56sprayed across
16:57Ethan's face
16:57across Natalie's.
16:59The system's
17:00spoke host
17:00is exiting
17:01this world.
17:04My body crumpled
17:05into a pool of blood.
17:07My soul lifted light
17:08and weightless
17:08drifting up
17:09near the ceiling,
17:10Natalie.
17:10Stared at my body,
17:11stunned her legs,
17:12gave out beneath her.
17:13She hit the floor,
17:14grabbed her head
17:15and screamed.
17:15Ali!
17:16Lethan went pale.
17:18He threw himself
17:18down beside me
17:19not caring about the blood
17:20soaking into his clothes
17:21he pressed.
17:22Both.
17:23Hands against the wound
17:24at my throat,
17:24trying to hold back
17:25what was already
17:26flowing out.
17:27Doctor!
17:28Someone help her now!
17:29The surgeon snapped
17:30back to himself.
17:33Chaos erupted.
17:34I was rushed
17:34into surgery,
17:35Ethan,
17:35and Natalie were left
17:36in the hallway.
17:37Natalie turned
17:38and grabbed his sleeve.
17:39Her eyes were readily won.
17:41Eli won't die, right?
17:42She's always been scared
17:43of pain,
17:44scared of dying.
17:45Why would she ever?
17:46Ethan didn't answer.
17:47His expression
17:48was somewhere far away.
17:49Was I really afraid
17:50of dying?
17:51Not entirely.
17:51I think if I had truly
17:53been such a coward,
17:54I never would have stood
17:55in front of those men
17:56for Natalie
17:56in the first place.
17:59After that night,
18:00he couldn't sleep
18:01for months.
18:02He knew several times.
18:03He watched me pick up
18:04a knife
18:04and hold it
18:05against my wrist.
18:06Then set it down,
18:07watched me climb
18:08halfway over the windowsill,
18:09then climb back.
18:10Each time he'd broken
18:11into a cold sweat
18:12he wanted to stay with me.
18:13But Natalie was struggling
18:14too plagued
18:15by guilt by nightmares.
18:16She couldn't sleep
18:17unless he was there.
18:18He couldn't leave her
18:19and he couldn't
18:19trust me alone.
18:20So he had cameras
18:21installed in the house
18:22I climbed out of the dark.
18:24On my own,
18:24Natalie recovered slowly
18:25with his help.
18:26It was during this time
18:27that he learned the truth
18:28about what Natalie
18:29had done one night.
18:30She talked in her sleep
18:31and let it slip.
18:32He had been furious,
18:33shaking, screaming at her.
18:34And Natalie cried,
18:35cried so hard,
18:36then said bitterly,
18:37I couldn't stand it.
18:39Why does everything
18:40come to her so easily?
18:42And I have to claw
18:43and beg
18:43for the smallest scrap?
18:45Why does she get
18:47the world handed to her?
18:49While I'm down here
18:50begging for crumbs?
18:52He felt sorry for her,
18:53but he also knew
18:54bringing it up again
18:55would only pour salt
18:56into my wounds.
18:57So he kept his mouth
18:58hot.
19:00He thought of my face
19:01on the rooftop,
19:02that look of total despair
19:03something tore from his chest.
19:05He stared at the operating
19:06room doors
19:07and found himself asking
19:08for the first time
19:09was the choice
19:09I made really right.
19:11A long silence,
19:11the doors opened.
19:12Is anyone here
19:13for Eliza Stone?
19:14Ethan and Natalie
19:15rushed forward.
19:16We are.
19:17Her blood type is rare.
19:18The blood bank
19:19doesn't have enough.
19:20We'll need a donor immediately.
19:21Ethan didn't pause
19:22for a second.
19:23He grabbed Natalie
19:24by the shoulder.
19:24Her, she can do it.
19:25And pushed her
19:26toward the surgeon.
19:26They have the same blood type.
19:28Natalie's eyes went wide.
19:29Ethan, I just gave birth.
19:32How can I donate blood?
19:35The surgeon looked
19:36uncomfortable.
19:37Ethan cut him off.
19:38So what if she donates?
19:39Last time Natalie
19:40was in a car accident,
19:41Eliza donated blood for her.
19:43Donating blood won't kill you.
19:45But if there's no blood,
19:46Eliza will die.
19:48I floated near the ceiling
19:50watching them.
19:51Argue genuinely confused,
19:52I turned to the sister.
19:54You already died.
19:56Why are the doctors
19:57still trying to save me?
19:59You have died.
20:00But the resuscitation
20:02was fast.
20:03Your body is holding on briefly.
20:05That is why your soul
20:06is still here,
20:07unable to leave.
20:08Ethan shoved Natalie
20:09toward the blood driver
20:10without waiting for her answer.
20:12Then he stopped
20:13in the corridor.
20:14He called his assistant.
20:18Go to the Westside Bakery.
20:20Get a strawberry cake.
20:22Bring it to the hospital.
20:24Now.
20:24He hung up,
20:25murmured to himself.
20:27She loves their strawberry cake.
20:30If she wakes up
20:31and it's the first thing
20:31she sees,
20:32she'll be happy.
20:33Listening,
20:34it was almost funny.
20:36I did love
20:37that bakery's strawberry cake.
20:38He used to buy it
20:39every day somewhere.
20:40Along the way,
20:41he stopped started buying
20:42mango cake
20:43from the east side instead.
20:45Because that was Natalie's favorite.
20:47I had stopped eating strawberry cake.
20:49Long before I realized
20:51why he thought
20:52I was still the same person.
20:53I'd always been easy
20:55to please grateful
20:55for a pebble.
20:57As if it were gold.
20:59Both Natalie and I
21:00were moved to the ICU
21:01side by side.
21:02I curved my lips
21:03into something
21:04that might have been
21:04a smile I watched.
21:06A heart monitor
21:07beside my bed.
21:08The line tracing
21:09slowly steadily.
21:10Almost like being alive.
21:12No wonder Ethan
21:13hadn't given up.
21:16He didn't spare a glance.
21:18For Natalie,
21:19he sat by my bed.
21:21And didn't move.
21:22He took out
21:22a clean handkerchief.
21:23And carefully wiped
21:25the blood from my face.
21:26His fingers were trembling.
21:28Betraying how far
21:29from calm
21:30he actually was
21:31with his hand.
21:32Paused,
21:33he raised his thumb.
21:34And pressed it softly
21:35against my eyebrow.
21:37The scar there.
21:38The day I pulled him
21:40from the housekeeper's hands.
21:41She slashed her knife
21:42across my brow
21:43and left that mark.
21:44Luckily it missed my eye.
21:46Luckily the scar
21:47stayed small.
21:48He traced it slowly
21:49back and forth.
21:50Then a drop of water
21:51landed on my face.
21:53Then another Ethan's hand
21:54moved frantically
21:55to wipe them away.
21:57He was crying,
21:58but there were too many tears
21:59he couldn't keep up.
22:00Finally,
22:01he gave up.
22:02He bent forward
22:02and buried.
22:03His face in my chest
22:04and sobbed without sound
22:06until there was nothing left
22:07when he finally went quiet.
22:09He straightened.
22:11He reached for the strawberry cake.
22:12His assistant had brought
22:14and held it out
22:15like an offering lip.
22:16I got you your favorite cake
22:17because you haven't had it
22:18in so long.
22:19But I lay there
22:20without moving,
22:21without answering.
22:22He set the cake down.
22:23He gripped my hand.
22:24He pressed my palm
22:25against his cheek
22:26and leaned into.
22:27It'll lie.
22:28I am sorry.
22:28Please wake up.
22:29I can't lose.
22:30You please wake up.
22:32I chose the best
22:33cemetery plot for the baby.
22:35When you wake up,
22:36we'll go together.
22:37We'll go together.
22:40I floated overhead
22:41watching his performance.
22:42I felt nothing but revulsion
22:44when he mentioned the baby
22:45even as a soul.
22:46The pain drove through me
22:47like a needle.
22:48I couldn't pull my hand back.
22:50I couldn't do anything.
22:51I could only drift there
22:53and watch a shit.
22:54I grew more and more confused
22:55by his behavior.
22:58Now I was almost gone.
22:59No one stood between him
23:00and Natalie anymore.
23:02Shouldn't they be free now?
23:03But that wasn't
23:04what was happening
23:05something at F.
23:06He sat at my bedside
23:07and never left.
23:08For hours,
23:09he didn't give Natalie
23:10a single glance.
23:11After a while,
23:12Natalie's eyelashes fluttered.
23:14She opened her eyes,
23:15barely conscious Ethan water.
23:16Ethan?
23:17Ethan?
23:19Water?
23:19He didn't turn.
23:21Ethan, are you blaming me?
23:23I'm not blaming you.
23:24I'm blaming myself.
23:28I didn't think
23:28she'd be that resolved
23:29if I'd known earlier.
23:31And Natalie closed her eyes
23:32and swallowed
23:33whatever was behind them.
23:34She'll forgive us.
23:35No, Natalie.
23:36We're finished.
23:38I promised Eli
23:39if she wakes up
23:39I'll stay with her.
23:40I'll give you a settlement.
23:42You and the baby,
23:42I'll send you abroad.
23:46Ethan finally looked at her,
23:48but his eyes held regret, guilt.
23:50Even contempt,
23:51not one trace of love.
23:52She stared at him.
23:53She understood
23:54everything was over.
23:56She said nothing more
23:57made up some excuse
23:58about feeling unwell
23:59and closed her eyes.
24:01The room went dark as night.
24:05Well, she opened her eyes again.
24:08Ethan wasn't by my bedside.
24:09Her pulse hammered.
24:11She hated him so much.
24:12Her teeth ached.
24:13This wasn't what she wanted
24:14if I died.
24:16Everything would go back
24:17to how it should be.
24:18She would be Mrs. Foster
24:19basking in everyone's envy.
24:20Her son would grow up
24:21adored the way she never was.
24:23As a child,
24:23she got up
24:24without thinking
24:25a wave of dizziness hit.
24:26She nearly went down.
24:27She gripped the bed frames
24:28slowly inch by inch.
24:30She moved toward me.
24:31I floated overhead.
24:33Watching my heart
24:33was already still.
24:34The system had told me
24:35I was almost fully gone.
24:36Her right hand crept
24:37toward my oxygen tube.
24:39Cold sweat beaded
24:40on her forehead.
24:40Blame yourself
24:41for being too bright.
24:43This isn't my fault.
24:45You brought it on yourself.
24:47She said it like
24:47it was meant for me
24:48or maybe for herself.
24:49A voice
24:50sliced through the room.
24:52What do you think
24:53you're doing?
24:56She spun around
24:58Ethan stood in the doorway.
24:59Furious.
25:00No beyond furious.
25:02Natalie
25:02stumbled hit the floor.
25:05Her wound split open.
25:06Put away your ugly
25:08little thoughts.
25:09If anything happens
25:10to Elisa
25:11I will hold you
25:12responsible
25:12for every last bit of it.
25:15Ethan Foster
25:16what gives you
25:17the right
25:17to treat me this way?
25:21That's impossible!
25:25She faked it.
25:27She faked all of it.
25:29Eliza all of it.
25:33Eliza wake up!
25:34I didn't do it.
25:36You can't accuse me
25:38of this please.
25:39Please Ethan
25:40lost all reason.
25:41He locked both hands
25:43around Natalie's throat
25:44and chained to him.
25:46How dare you!
25:51Natalie
25:51clawed at his hands.
25:53Struck his arms
25:54thrashed with everything
25:55she had.
25:56She was nearly gone
25:57the nurses
25:57and doctors
25:58finally rushed in
25:59to pull him off Natalie.
26:01Collapsed on the floor
26:02gasping she looked up
26:03at him with helpless
26:04burning hatred
26:04she had been so close.
26:06So close to having
26:07everything to being
26:07happier than you.
26:08and then Ethan
26:09as though he had
26:10taken back
26:11every feeling
26:11he had ever given her
26:12looked at her now
26:13like a stranger.
26:15Why?
26:17I was your fiancé first!
26:20You loved me
26:20I know you did!
26:23Why?
26:25You think I actually
26:26loved you?
26:27Even rats
26:28crawl towards the light.
26:29No rat falls in love
26:30with another rat.
26:31She heard exactly
26:32what he meant
26:33she would always
26:33lose to me.
26:36The wife of the man
26:38who attacked Eliza
26:38that night.
26:40She was crying
26:41explaining
26:41said someone
26:42had paid her husband
26:44that the target
26:45was already pregnant
26:46that the instructions
26:47were to beat her
26:48until she miscarries
26:49to end kill her.
26:51You told me
26:52they were just
26:52supposed to rough her up
26:53but the man
26:54went too far
26:55on his own.
26:57Remember that?
26:59She couldn't
27:00form a single word.
27:04Ethan looked at her
27:05and understood
27:05everything his eyes burned.
27:07He was shaking
27:08with something
27:08too vast.
27:09Natalie White
27:10you lied to me!
27:12I'm sure you told
27:13yourself you could
27:14handle my rage.
27:16That's why you dared.
27:17Am I right?
27:18You'd better hope so.
27:20Because if not
27:20I will make absolutely
27:22certain you understand
27:23what hell looks like.
27:25She scrambled
27:26toward him.
27:27Panic grabbed
27:28his pant leg
27:29and begged
27:29Ethan you can't
27:31do this to me!
27:31I'm the mother
27:32of your child!
27:33He needs me!
27:35I lied before
27:36about the sterilization.
27:37I didn't do it!
27:39I can still
27:39give you children!
27:40I'm still useful to you!
27:42The image
27:42flashed through
27:43Ethan's mind
27:43me on the floor
27:44clawing at his leg
27:45begging a fresh wound
27:46opened.
27:46You lied about that too!
27:48Fine
27:49White you should have
27:50jumped when you
27:50had the chance.
27:52As she wailed sob
27:54until she couldn't breathe
27:55and while all of that
27:56was unfolding
27:57on her side
27:57I was already gone
27:58in the moment
27:59of my final death.
28:00A tremendous force
28:01seized me
28:02and pulled me
28:02into darkness.
28:05Mom's warm hand
28:06held mine so tightly
28:07my heart
28:08slowly warmed
28:09after a long time
28:10my eyes finally opened
28:12and her face
28:14appeared above me
28:14blurred
28:15behind tears
28:15her hair had gone grey.
28:17She had always cared
28:18about her appearance
28:19but there was no thought
28:20left in her
28:21for dying it.
28:22She had lost
28:23so much weight
28:24my throat
28:24tightened
28:25my tears came
28:25before I could stop them.
28:27I looked at my parents
28:28faces wrapped
28:28Ed and Radiant
28:29at the same time
28:30several doctors
28:31came in
28:32and examined me
28:32shaking their heads
28:33in disbelief.
28:34A miracle.
28:35An absolute miracle.
28:38After they finished
28:40I lay there
28:40trying to find my voice
28:42finally slowly
28:43Mom, Dad, I'm back.
28:45Mom wiped her eyes.
28:47My foolish girl
28:48what did you put
28:49yourself through?
28:52It's your father's fault.
28:53He insisted on
28:54rushing you home
28:55to meet that match.
28:56That's why the accident
28:57happened.
28:58The doctor said
28:59the best case
29:00was a vengeterial state.
29:02We got the critical
29:04notifest so many times.
29:06Dad's eyes went red
29:06through.
29:06The child's awake
29:07stopped saying
29:08these things.
29:09He cut her off.
29:10My girl is
29:11perfectly fine.
29:12I tried to move
29:12my arm and wince.
29:13What are you doing?
29:14Mom stopped me
29:15immediately.
29:16You're still injured.
29:17You need to rest.
29:20I opened my mouth.
29:22My voice came out
29:23hoarse.
29:24How long was I out?
29:28Dad said
29:29Ten days.
29:31Only ten days
29:32I was almost afraid
29:33to think about it
29:34if my parents
29:34had been pulled
29:35into that other world
29:36the way I had lived
29:37through decades.
29:38Maybe we would never
29:39have had found
29:39each other again.
29:41I thought I'd never
29:42see you again.
29:44Dad's voice broke.
29:46It's over now.
29:48Everything will be alright.
29:50You just rest.
29:51I'll go make you
29:52that soup you love.
29:53The doctor just said
29:54no greasy food
29:55and you've already forgotten.
29:56Listen to me.
29:57I just kept thinking
29:58she'd lost weight.
29:59I wanted to build
30:00her back up.
30:02I held on to
30:03both of their hands
30:04without letting go
30:05something settled
30:05in my chest.
30:06The people who loved me
30:08were always right here
30:09waiting.
30:10I just hadn't been
30:11looking a year
30:11after I left the hospital.
30:13I was lying in a garden
30:14chair sunning myself
30:20when the system
30:21appeared again
30:22host after your departure.
30:23The villain fully
30:24descended into darkness.
30:26The world within
30:27the novel is collapsing.
30:29He only asks
30:30for one thing
30:30to see you once more.
30:32Sure enough
30:32before I could answer
30:33Ethan Foster appeared.
30:38He saw me
30:39his pupils contracted sharply.
30:40His whole face ignited
30:42he rushed toward me.
30:43Arms open
30:43wanting to pull me in.
30:44He passed right through me.
30:45The joy on his face
30:46caved in.
30:48Like a ghost
30:49he stood there.
30:49Eli you're alive
30:50I knew it!
30:52I let out a quiet breath.
30:53You've seen me now.
30:55You can go back.
30:56His eyes reddened
30:58when he finally spoke.
30:59His voice was stripped
31:00of everything but humility.
31:02Ethan's expression faltered.
31:04You still won't forgive me.
31:06I know
31:07and I deserve that.
31:09What I did
31:10was unconscionable.
31:11I don't have words for it.
31:14I knew from the beginning
31:16we were different.
31:17You were always
31:18sunshine
31:18open
31:19warm
31:19bright
31:20and I was something
31:21that lived in the gutter
31:22stealing whatever light
31:23it could find
31:24and calling that enough.
31:25Having the whole sun
31:26it burns.
31:27Natalie was like me.
31:29I thought I'd found my kind.
31:30Someone I didn't look
31:31patatiful next to
31:32but I forgot
31:32without the sun
31:34I'd die.
31:35I looked at him
31:35cold tired
31:36of all of it.
31:38Ethan
31:38you are not just
31:39despicable.
31:44You are a coward.
31:50You wanted me.
31:51You wanted Natalie.
31:53You failed both of us.
31:57And now standing there
31:59with that look on your face
32:00it disgusts me.
32:02He stared at me
32:03like he couldn't believe
32:03what he was hearing.
32:04I had always been soft with him.
32:06I had never once
32:08spoken to him like this.
32:10He didn't know
32:10that the moment
32:11you stop loving someone
32:12you finally see them clearly
32:13only the heart
32:14that no longer loves
32:15can tell the truth.
32:16Leave.
32:18I never want to see you again.
32:20I turned my back on him
32:21and walked away.
32:22He stayed where he was
32:23watching my retreating figure
32:25without moving.
32:28I never saw
32:29when he left
32:30the system
32:31appeared again.
32:32The villain
32:33had been fully redeemed.
32:34He had stopped
32:35descending into darkness.
32:38He killed Natalie
32:39and
32:40the child
32:41with his own hands
32:42stepped off the rooftop.
32:50As for what happened
32:51to Ethan and Natalie
32:52I found that I had
32:54not one feeling
32:54left about it.
32:55The system
32:56quickly moved on
32:57to the good news.
32:58World War II
32:59Mission Complete
33:01Reward 10 Million Dollars
33:05I accepted
33:06without hesitation.
33:07Outside the sun
33:08was brilliant mom
33:10and dad came laughing
33:11through the gate
33:11back from the walk.
33:12I smiled
33:13and went to meet
33:13them.
33:14I smiled
Comments

Recommended